Using Primo Research Assistant

Where is it?

• The Primo Research Assistant can be accessed at any time during your search process in Primo by clicking on the "Primo Research Assistant" button on the menu above the search bar.

How do I use it?

• Type your research question into the research assistant search bar.
• Make sure your questions are clear, detailed, and pertain to an academic subject.
• Note: you can use the limiters below the search bar to narrow your results by resource type, date, and online availability.

What kind of results will I get?

• The research assistant will return 5 sources from the library databases that it deems most relevant to your question.
• It also generates a 200-400 word summary of each source's abstract.
• You can download the source as a PDF, or access the source directly by clicking on the blue "Full Text Online" button.
• Selecting "More Details and Request Options" will lead you to the source's record in the Primo databases, which will allow you to find more information about the source, save it, cite it, or submit an ILL request if the library does not own it.

• Below these results, the research assistant will give you a helpful overview of the sources, including numbered references to the sources from which the information was drawn.
• It will also offer suggestions for related research questions to deepen or hone your research.

What next?

If the research assistant's answers were helpful...

• Access any articles that look like they will be useful for your research. Remember to save articles or email them to yourself so you can find them again!
• You can provide feedback to the assistant by clicking on the thumbs up or thumbs down buttons: 
• If you need more sources, click on the "View More Results" button.

• This will bring you to an expanded search in the Primo databases:

If the research assistant's answers were NOT helpful...

• Click "try again" to refresh the results:  
• If this is not successful, consider crafting a new research question that is clear, detailed, and academic. You can type it into the search bar at the bottom of the page to continue your interaction with the research assistant.

Can I find my searches again?

• Yes, you can!
• On the left side of your screen, you can either start a new search by clicking the "Start a New Topic" button, or access previous searches by clicking on them in your research history.
  • It's a good idea to start new searches any time you switch topics or assignments. This way, you have a clear research history for each topic/assignment.

More questions?

 Ask a Librarian!

We'd love to help! Don't hesitate to reach out to a library staff member if you find yourself needing any assistance.

ExLibris, the creator of the Primo Research Assistant, provides helpful tutorials for using its product.

• A step-by-step tutorial and overview of the Research Assistant can be found here: Getting Started with the Primo Research Assistant
• A helpful video tutorial for the Research Assistant can be found here: Primo Research Assistant (6 min.)